JPH06255120A - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Ink remaining amount information can be displayed on each ink tank or ink cartridge on the ink tank or ink cartridge itself, making it difficult to identify due to the miniaturization of the ink tank. It is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount of. [Configuration] The print cartridge 21 includes a print head,
The remaining ink amount display means 34 and the ink tank are integrated, and the remaining ink amount detection means 32 for detecting the remaining amount of ink inside is connected to the ink tank. An MPU 31 is connected to the ink remaining amount detecting means 32 to monitor the ink remaining amount information and to instruct the ink remaining amount display control means 33 how to display. In the remaining ink amount display control means 33 controlled by the MPU 31, the remaining ink amount display means 34 made of an irreversible heat-sensitive material is used as the heating means 3.
It is connected via 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print recording apparatus, and more particularly to an ink jet recording apparatus of an ink jet print recording system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional ink jet recording apparatus, an ink remaining amount detecting means having a float and an optical detecting means is provided inside an ink tank or an ink cartridge. The remaining ink amount detecting means has a structure in which the float acts on the optical means to generate an electric signal when the remaining ink amount reaches a constant value, and thus the remaining ink amount is detected. . Then, a display device such as an LED provided in the printer body is turned on to display that the remaining amount of ink is low.

Since the present ink jet recording apparatus is an on-demand type ink jet method which ejects ink only when necessary, the ink consumption is small, and the ink tank is being miniaturized.

[0004]

In the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the ink tank or the print cartridge itself has no means for displaying the remaining amount of ink, and the display means is provided in the printer body. Therefore, when printing a large amount of ink in succession, load the ink tank into the printer body one by one to select the ink tank with the largest amount of ink remaining from the several ink tanks left in the vicinity. Then, there was a problem that it was necessary to check the remaining amount of ink.

Further, when the ink tank is miniaturized as it is at present, it is necessary to reduce the floating in the ink tank. However, when the floating is reduced, there is a problem that due to a force such as the surface tension of the ink, it clings to the wall of the ink tank and it becomes impossible to accurately detect the remaining ink amount.

In order to avoid the above-mentioned problems, it is possible to provide a window made of a transparent resin in the ink tank so that the inside can be seen, and it is possible to directly check by visual inspection. Ink clings to the window, making it difficult to see the amount of ink remaining inside, which is not practical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and it is possible to display remaining ink amount information on an ink tank or a print cartridge on each ink tank or print cartridge alone. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can accurately detect the remaining amount of ink that is difficult to discriminate due to the miniaturization of the ink tank.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a print head, the ink jet recording apparatus being replaceable with the main body of the ink, An ink tank for supplying the ink, an ink remaining amount detecting device for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank, and an ink remaining amount display means provided in the ink tank for displaying ink remaining amount information,
A control device for displaying the remaining ink amount information on the remaining ink amount display means based on the detection result of the remaining ink amount detecting device, or the ink tank and the print head are integrally formed. It may be characterized in that it has a print cartridge replaceable with the main body of the apparatus, and the print cartridge is provided with an ink remaining amount display means, and the ink remaining amount display means changes color when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. And a heating means for applying heat to the heat-sensitive material, wherein the control device controls the heating means based on the detection result of the ink remaining amount detection device. The heat-sensitive material is applied with heat to change its color to display the remaining ink amount information, and the remaining ink amount display means is formed of a heat-sensitive material that changes color when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. It consists radical 113, wherein the control device,
Based on the detection result of the remaining ink amount detection device, the print head is controlled with a pulse width at which ink is not ejected, and heat generated by the print head at this time gives heat to the display unit to form a heat-sensitive material. It is also possible to change the color and display the remaining ink amount information.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink remaining amount detecting device has a heating means for heating the ink tank and a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the ink tank, and when the temperature of the ink tank rises, It is characterized by detecting the amount of ink remaining in the ink tank.
A storage device that stores a rate of increase in change due to the correlation between the remaining amount of ink and the temperature of the ink tank, and the storage device is built in the main body of the device, or the heating means discharges ink. Characterized in that it is also used as a heating means used for discharging the ink, and in that the heating means and the temperature detecting means are also used as a heating means used for ejecting ink. Alternatively, it may be characterized in that a flow path blocking means for blocking the ink flow path from the ink tank to the print head is provided when the ink tank is heated.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink remaining amount detecting apparatus has gas injecting means for injecting gas into the ink tank and pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure in the ink tank. The ink remaining amount detecting device is characterized by detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank, and the device for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is based on the volume of gas injected until the pressure value in the ink tank reaches a reference value. Of the remaining ink, and may be provided with a flow path blocking means for blocking the ink flow path from the ink tank to the print head when injecting gas into the ink tank. .

The ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage having an ink tank mounted thereon and a motor for moving and scanning the carriage, and the ink remaining amount detecting apparatus monitors and measures a load amount applied to the motor. And a means for monitoring and measuring the counter electromotive force of the motor, wherein the motor monitoring means detects the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank based on the load applied to the motor. It is also possible that the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is detected by the counter electromotive voltage of the motor.

[0012]

In the present invention configured as described above, the remaining ink amount detecting device detects the remaining ink amount in the ink tank, and based on the detection result, the remaining ink amount information is displayed in the ink tank by the remaining ink amount display means. Since it is displayed, it is possible to detect the amount of ink remaining in the ink tank alone.

In the ink remaining amount detecting apparatus used in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the heating means heats the ink tank and the temperature detecting means detects the temperature of the ink tank. The ink level is detected.

In a further ink remaining amount detecting device, gas is injected into the ink tank by the gas injecting means, the pressure in the ink tank is measured by the pressure measuring means, and the ink residual amount in the ink tank is calculated from the pressure in the ink tank at this time. The amount is detected.

In a further ink remaining amount detecting device, the load amount applied to the motor when the carriage carrying the ink tank is moved and scanned by the motor is monitored and measured by the motor monitoring means. The remaining amount of ink inside is detected.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a print cartridge applied to a first embodiment of an ink remaining amount display means in a print recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the printer main body in which the print cartridge shown in FIG.

A print cartridge 21 as shown in FIG.
Is used in an inkjet printer, and a print head unit 12 that ejects ink and an ink tank unit 13 that is filled with ink are integrally configured. Further, on the surface of the print cartridge 21, there is provided an ink remaining amount display portion 11 for displaying ink remaining amount information in the ink tank portion 13 which is one constituent feature of the present invention as described later.

The print cartridge 21 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 22 provided in the printer main body 23 is loaded and used.

A control device for displaying the ink remaining amount information in the ink tank will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control device for displaying the remaining ink amount information in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is one control means in the control device shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of a heating means.

In the print cartridge 21 loaded in the printer body 23 as shown in FIG. 3, the print head, the ink remaining amount display means 34, and the ink tank are integrally formed as shown in FIG. Therefore, the ink tank is connected with the same ink remaining amount detecting means 32 as the conventional one that detects the remaining amount of ink inside. The MPU 3 which monitors the remaining ink amount information and instructs the remaining ink amount display control unit 33 to control how to display the remaining ink amount display unit 33.
1 is connected. The remaining ink amount display control unit 33 controlled by the MPU 31 changes the color when a certain temperature is exceeded and does not return to the original color (reversible) ink remaining amount display unit 34. Are connected via the heating means 35.

The heating means 35 is configured to heat the ink remaining amount display means 34 under the control of the ink remaining amount display control means 33. Specifically, it comprises a heating element 36 such as a resistor and a switching element 37 such as a transistor as shown in FIG.
The driving of the switching element 37 is controlled by
The heating element 36 generates heat to heat the ink remaining amount display means 34.

In this embodiment, it is desirable to detect the remaining amount of ink when the print cartridge is stationary, such as when the printer is turned on or when a line feed is made, but the ink surface is stable even when the print cartridge is moving. If not, this is not the case.

Next, the operation of detecting the remaining ink amount in the print recording apparatus will be described. First, the MPU 31 detects the remaining ink amount of the ink tank contained in the print cartridge 21 by the remaining ink amount detecting means 32.

Then, the MPU 31 grasps the current ink remaining amount, and if the ink is low, the ink remaining amount display control means 33 causes the ink remaining amount display means 34 provided in the print cartridge 36 to display the current ink amount. The information of the remaining amount is displayed by the heating means 37.

At this time, the ink remaining amount display means 34 is displayed as shown in FIG.
As shown in, a message such as "The ink is running low" is displayed due to the action of the ink made of the (irreversible) thermosensitive material that changes color when a certain temperature is exceeded.

In this embodiment as described above, the remaining ink amount is detected by detecting the remaining ink amount in the ink tank or the print cartridge by the remaining ink amount detecting means, and the ink is mounted in the ink tank or the print cartridge. By controlling the remaining ink amount information display means, it is possible to independently identify the print cartridge that has run out of ink.

The heating means of this embodiment is not limited to the use of a heating element such as a resistor, but a heating element used in the print head portion may be used. The inkjet type recording head ejects ink by causing a heating element to generate heat and causing the ink to boil. In this recording head, when the pulse width of the electric signal applied to the heating element is shortened, there is a pulse width in which the energy for ejecting ink disappears. That is, the heating means of the present embodiment applies a short pulse to the heating element of the print head within a range in which ink is not ejected, and utilizes the heat of the heating element generated by this application to display the remaining ink amount information display means 34. It may be heated to.

Further, in the present embodiment, the ink remaining amount display example is not limited to "ink is running low", but may be "ink is about to be replaced", and is not restricted.

(Second Embodiment) This embodiment is an embodiment in which not only the "ink shortage is displayed" of the first embodiment but also the remaining ink amount is displayed like a bar graph.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the print cartridge applied to the second embodiment of the ink remaining amount display means in the print recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is the ink residual quantity in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control device for displaying quantity information, and FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating means which is one control means in the control device shown in FIG.

A print cartridge 51 as shown in FIG.
Is used in an inkjet printer similar to that of the first embodiment, and a print head portion 42 for ejecting ink and an ink tank portion 43 filled with ink are integrally formed. . Further, on the surface of the print cartridge 51, an ink remaining amount display section 41 for displaying the ink remaining amount information in the ink tank section 43, which is one constituent feature of the present invention as described later, is provided. The print cartridge 51 is used by loading it on a carriage provided in the printer body.

Now, the control device for displaying the remaining ink amount information in the ink tank will be described with reference to FIG.

In the print cartridge 51 loaded in the printer body 66 as shown in FIG. 6, the print head, the ink remaining amount display means 64, and the ink tank are integrally formed as shown in FIG. The ink tank is connected to an ink remaining amount detecting means 62 similar to the conventional one, which detects the remaining amount of ink inside. The MPU 6 instructs the remaining ink amount detecting means 62 to monitor the remaining ink amount information and give a control command to the remaining ink amount display control means 63 to display it.
1 is connected. The ink remaining amount display control unit 63 controlled by the MPU 61 includes an ink remaining amount display unit 64 formed of a (irreversible) thermosensitive material that changes color when a certain temperature is exceeded and does not return to the original color. Are connected via the heating means 35.

The heating means 35 is configured to heat the ink remaining amount display means 64 under the control of the ink remaining amount display control means 63. Specifically, it has a plurality of heating elements 67a such as resistors as shown in FIG. 7 and a plurality of switching elements 68a such as transistors corresponding to the heating elements 67a, and each of the switching elements 68a is controlled by the ink remaining amount display control means 33. Is controlled so that the corresponding heating element 68a generates heat to heat a part of the ink remaining amount display means 34.

It is desirable to detect the ink remaining amount in this embodiment when the print cartridge is stationary such as when the power of the printer is turned on or at the time of line feed, but the ink surface is stable even when the print cartridge is moving. If not, this is not the case.

Next, the operation of detecting the remaining amount of ink in the print recording apparatus will be described.

First, the MPU 61 includes the print cartridge 5
The ink remaining amount detecting means 62 detects the ink remaining amount of the ink tank incorporated in the apparatus 1.

Then, the MPU 61 grasps the present ink remaining amount, and if the ink is low, the ink remaining amount display control means 63 causes the ink remaining amount display means 64 provided in the print cartridge 51 to display the present ink. Information on the remaining amount is displayed by the heating means 65.

At this time, the ink remaining amount display means 54 corresponds to each heating element as shown in FIG. 5 by the action of the ink made of the (irreversible) thermosensitive material which changes color when a certain temperature is exceeded. The remaining ink amount is displayed in the form of a bar graph.

Since the present embodiment as described above has a plurality of display control means, which is the only one in the first embodiment, it is as shown in FIG. 5 depending on the detected ink remaining amount. A bar graph can be displayed, and the remaining ink amount can be detected more finely.

In the present embodiment, the ink remaining amount display example is not limited to the bar graph, and the shape such as a pie graph is not limited.

In the above first and second embodiments, the remaining ink amount detecting means having the same float and optical detecting means as in the conventional example is used, but the ink tank is particularly downsized. At this time, an ink remaining amount detecting device as described below can be applied. Therefore, in the following embodiments, only the ink remaining amount detecting device is different from the first and second embodiments, which will be described in detail.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the construction of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in the third embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating unit included in the ink remaining amount detection device, and FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a temperature detection unit included in the ink remaining amount detection device illustrated in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has a print cartridge 101 in which an ink tank 104 and a print head 102 for ejecting ink are integrated via an ink flow path 103. And the print head 1 from the ink tank 104 to the ink flow path 103.
A flow path blocking means 103a such as a solenoid valve for blocking the supply of ink to the ink cartridge 02 is provided. Ink tank 104
A temperature detecting means 106 for detecting the temperature inside the ink tank 104 and a heating means 105 for heating the ink tank 104 are provided in the printer.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, the storage device 110 in which the correlation function of the ink remaining amount based on the temperature change rate of the ink tank is stored, the MPU 109, and the MPU.
In order to detect the temperature in the ink tank 104 at this time by the temperature detecting means 106, the ink tank 104 is heated by the heating means 105 after the ink flow path 103 is blocked by the flow path blocking means 103a according to the command from 109. A controller 107 is provided. Also,
The controller 107 is provided with temperature detecting means 108 for detecting the temperature. The MPU 109 gives the above-mentioned command to the controller 107, and the temperature detecting means 10
6, the remaining amount of ink is calculated from the temperature in the ink tank 104 obtained from No. 6 based on the correlation function of the storage device 110.

The above-mentioned heating means 105 is composed of a switching element 112 such as a transistor and a heating element 111 such as a resistor, which are connected to a controller 107 as shown in FIG. The controller 107 is the MPU 10
ON / OF of electricity to the heating element 111 according to command from 9
The pulse width and period of F are controlled by controlling the switching element 112. As a result, the heating of the ink tank 104 by the heating unit 105 is controlled.

On the other hand, the temperature detecting means 106 comprises a thermistor 113 whose resistance value changes with temperature as shown in FIG. Controller 1
07 reads the resistance change of the thermistor 113, amplifies the rate of change by an electric signal, and transmits it to the MPU 109. Then, the MPU 109 calculates the current temperature inside the ink tank 104 from the change in the resistance value.

Next, the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device applied to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the third embodiment of the present invention.

First, the MPU 109 is the controller 107.
The ambient temperature is detected by the air temperature detecting means 108 (step S1).

Next, the MPU 109 is connected to the controller 107.
Via the temperature detecting means 106, the ink tank 1
The temperature of 04 is detected (step S2).

Then, by heating the ink tank, the pressurized ink is prevented from leaking from the print head 102.
The MPU 109 cuts off the ink flow path 103 by the flow path blocking means 103a via the controller 107 (step S3).

Next, the MPU 109 is the controller 107.
The ink tank 104 is heated by the ink tank heating means 105 via (step S4).

Here, the MPU 109 is the controller 10
7 through the ink tank 104 for a certain time (for example, 1
It is determined whether or not heating has been performed (for a second) (step S5). If it does not exceed the fixed time, the ink tank is heated until that time. Then, when it is confirmed that the ink has been heated for a certain period of time, the MPU 109 immediately detects the temperature of the ink tank 104 by the temperature detection means 106 via the controller 107 (step S6).

At this time, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the ink tank 104 exceeds a certain temperature (for example, the temperature at which the quality of the ink changes) (step S7). Then, when it is confirmed that the temperature has exceeded the predetermined temperature, the heating of the ink is immediately ended (step S9).

On the other hand, when the temperature does not exceed the predetermined temperature, a predetermined number of times of heating (for example, 10 times of heating for 1 second) is judged (step S8). When the predetermined number of times of heating is not exceeded, the above steps S4 to S7 are repeated, and when it is confirmed that the predetermined number of times of heating is exceeded, the heating of the ink is immediately terminated (step S9).

Then, the MPU 109 calculates the temperature change rate of the ink tank 104 during the above process (step S10).

At this time, the MPU 109 corrects the temperature change rate of the ink tank 104 by detecting the ambient temperature by the air temperature detecting means 108 via the controller 107 (step S11). This is because the temperature of the ink tank rises quickly when the outside ambient temperature is high, and conversely, the temperature of the ink tank rises slowly when the outside ambient temperature is low.

With the above procedure, the ink remaining amount in the ink tank is calculated by the correlation function of the ink remaining amount based on the temperature change rate of the ink tank stored in the storage device.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a general correlation of the remaining ink amount based on the temperature change rate of the ink tank. As can be seen from this figure, the ink remaining amount decreases as the temperature change rate of the ink tank increases. The ink remaining amount is calculated based on such a correlation.

Then, the CPU 109, as shown in FIG. 11, via the controller 107, the temperature detecting means 106.
Thus, it is determined whether or not the ink tank 104 has reached the original temperature (step S13).

At this time, when it is confirmed that the ink tank 104 has reached the original temperature, the flow path blocking means 103a releases the block of the ink flow path 103 via the controller 107 (step S14), and the process is completed. here,
It does not matter if the temperature of the ink tank does not return to the original temperature, or when it reaches a temperature at which ink does not leak from the print head.

As described above, in this embodiment, the ink tank is heated, and it is possible to grasp the remaining amount of ink in the print cartridge by the temperature rise rate.

Further, in the present embodiment, the MPU 109 drives / controls various detecting means via the controller 107, but the controller 107 may be omitted if it is a one-chip type MPU.

Furthermore, due to the increase in pressure in the ink tank,
If the ink does not leak from the print head, it is not necessary to block the ink flow path.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the third embodiment described above, a dedicated heating means is used to heat the ink tank. In this embodiment, the main purpose is to further downsize the device, and the heating means used for ejecting ink is driven under the condition that the ink does not jump out, and the heat is used to heat the ink tank.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the structure of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in the fourth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 13, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has a print cartridge 201 in which an ink jet type print head 202 for ejecting ink and an ink tank 204 are integrated. The print head 202 is provided with heating means 203 composed of a heating resistor corresponding to each of the ejection nozzles thereof, and the ink tank 204 is provided with temperature detection means 205 for detecting the temperature inside the ink tank 204. .

In the ink jet recording apparatus, a storage device 209 in which a correlation function of the ink remaining amount based on the temperature change rate of the ink tank is stored, an MPU 208, and an MPU.
In response to a command from 208, the ink tank 204 is heated by the heating means 20.
A controller 206 is provided for heating the ink in the ink tank 204 at a predetermined pulse width by which the ink is not ejected from the print head 202, and for detecting the temperature in the ink tank 204 at this time by the temperature detecting means 205. Also,
The controller 206 is provided with an air temperature detecting means 207 that detects the air temperature. The MPU 208 gives the controller 206 the above-mentioned command, and the temperature detection means 20
5, the remaining ink amount is calculated from the temperature in the ink tank 204 obtained in step 5 based on the correlation function of the storage device 209.

The heating means 203 is the controller 2
It is composed of a switching element such as a transistor and a heating element such as a resistor connected to 06. The controller 206 controls the switching element to control the ON / OFF pulse width, the cycle, etc. of the energization of the heating element according to a command from the MPU 208. As a result, the heating of the ink tank 204 by the heating unit 203 is controlled.

On the other hand, the temperature detecting means 205 comprises a thermistor whose resistance value changes with temperature. The controller 206 reads the resistance change of the thermistor, amplifies the change rate with an electric signal, and
It is transmitted to 208. Then, the MPU 208 calculates the current temperature inside the ink tank 204 from the change in the resistance value.

Next, the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device applied to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

First, the MPU 208 is the controller 206.
The ambient temperature is detected by the air temperature detecting means 207 via (step S21).

Next, the MPU 208 is the controller 206.
Via the temperature detecting means 205, the ink tank 2
The temperature of 04 is detected (step S22).

The MPU 208 is connected to the controller 20.
6, the heating means 203 is controlled to a pulse width that does not eject ink from the print head 202, and the ink tank 20
4 is heated (step S23).

Here, the MPU 208 is the controller 20.
6 through the ink tank 204 for a certain time (for example, 1
It is determined whether or not it has been heated (for a second) (step S24).
When it does not exceed the fixed time, the ink tank is heated until it reaches the fixed time. Then, when it is confirmed that the ink has been heated for a certain period of time, the MPU 208 detects the temperature of the ink tank 204 by the temperature detecting means 205 via the controller 206 (step S25).

At this time, it is judged whether or not the temperature of the ink tank 204 exceeds a certain temperature (for example, the temperature at which the quality of the ink changes) (step S26). Then, when it is confirmed that the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature, the heating of the ink is immediately ended (step S28).

On the other hand, when the temperature does not exceed the predetermined temperature, a predetermined number of times of heating (for example, 10 times of heating for 1 second) is judged (step S27). When the predetermined number of times of heating is not exceeded, the above steps S23 to S26 are repeated, and when it is confirmed that the predetermined number of times of heating is exceeded, the heating of the ink is immediately terminated (step S28).

Then, the MPU 208 calculates the temperature change rate of the ink tank 204 during the above process (step S29).

At this time, the MPU 208 detects the ambient temperature by the air temperature detecting means 207 via the controller 206 and corrects the temperature change rate of the ink tank 204 (step S30). This is because the temperature of the ink tank rises quickly when the outside ambient temperature is high, and conversely, the temperature of the ink tank rises slowly when the outside ambient temperature is low.

By the above procedure, the ink remaining amount in the ink tank is calculated by the correlation function of the ink remaining amount based on the temperature change rate of the ink tank stored in the storage device (step S31), and the process ends. As can be seen from FIG. 12 shown in the third embodiment, the ink remaining amount decreases as the temperature change rate of the ink tank increases.
The ink remaining amount is calculated based on such a correlation.

In this embodiment as described above, in addition to the effect of the third embodiment, the mechanism for detecting the ink remaining amount in the ink tank can be downsized.

In the present embodiment, the MPU 208 drives / controls various detecting means via the controller 206, but the controller 206 may be omitted if it is a one-chip type MPU.

(Fifth Embodiment) Instead of the fourth embodiment,
The heating means for the ink tank and the temperature detecting means for the ink tank are also used as the heating means for discharging the print head.
The reason for this dual use is that, for example, in a heater or the like, the resistance value changes due to a temperature rise. This was used as a temperature detecting means.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an ink remaining amount detecting apparatus used in the fifth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 15, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has a print cartridge 301 in which an ink jet type print head 302 for ejecting ink and an ink tank 304 are integrated. The print head 302 is provided with heating means 303 composed of a heating resistor corresponding to each of the discharge nozzles.

In the ink jet recording apparatus, a storage device 308 in which a correlation function of the ink remaining amount based on the temperature change rate of the ink tank is stored, MPU 307, MPU.
The ink tank 304 is heated by the command of 307.
3, a controller 305 is provided for heating the ink with a predetermined pulse width so that the ink is not ejected from the print head 302 by 3 and detecting the temperature inside the ink tank 304 by the resistance change of the heating means 303 at this time.
Further, the controller 305 is provided with an air temperature detecting means 306 for detecting the air temperature. The MPU 308 gives the above-mentioned command to the controller 305, and the heating means 3
The remaining ink amount is calculated based on the correlation function of the storage device 308 from the temperature inside the ink tank 304 obtained by the resistance change of No. 03.

The heating means 303 is the controller 3
A switching element such as a transistor and a heating element such as a resistor which are connected to 05. The controller 305 controls the switching element to control the ON / OFF pulse width, the period, and the like of the energization of the heating element according to a command from the MPU 307. As a result, the heating of the ink tank 304 by the heating means 303 is controlled. At the same time, the controller 305 reads the resistance change of the heating element and amplifies the rate of change by an electric signal,
Communicate to 7. Then, the MPU 307 calculates the current temperature inside the ink tank 304 from the change in the resistance value.

Next, the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device applied to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

First, the MPU 307 is the controller 305.
The ambient temperature is detected by the air temperature detecting means 306 via (step S41).

Next, the MPU 307 is the controller 305.
Through the, the temperature of the ink tank 304 is detected by the change in resistance of the heating means 303 (step S42).

The MPU 307 is the controller 30.
5, the heating means 303 is controlled to have a pulse width that does not eject ink from the print head 302 to control the ink tank 30.
4 is heated (step S43).

Here, the MPU 307 is the controller 30.
5 through the ink tank 304 for a certain period of time (for example, 1
It is determined whether or not heating has been performed (for a second) (step S44).
When it does not exceed the fixed time, the ink tank is heated until it reaches the fixed time. Then, when it is confirmed that the heating has been performed for a certain period of time, the MPU 307 gradually changes the resistance of the heating unit 303 via the controller 305.
The temperature of the ink tank 304 is detected (step S4)
5).

At this time, it is judged whether or not the temperature of the ink tank 304 exceeds a certain temperature (for example, the temperature at which the quality of the ink changes) (step S46). Then, when it is confirmed that the temperature exceeds the certain temperature, the heating of the ink is immediately ended (step S48).

On the other hand, when the temperature does not exceed the predetermined temperature, a predetermined number of times of heating (for example, 10 times of heating for 1 second) is judged (step S47). When the predetermined heating number is not exceeded, the above steps S43 to S46 are repeated, and when it is confirmed that the predetermined heating number is exceeded, the heating of the ink is immediately ended (step S48).

Then, the MPU 307 calculates the temperature change rate of the ink tank 304 during the above process (step S49).

At this time, the MPU 307 detects the ambient temperature by the air temperature detecting means 306 via the controller 305 and corrects the temperature change rate of the ink tank 304 (step S50). This is because the temperature of the ink tank rises quickly when the outside ambient temperature is high, and conversely, the temperature of the ink tank rises slowly when the outside ambient temperature is low.

By the above procedure, the ink remaining amount in the ink tank is calculated by the correlation function of the ink remaining amount based on the temperature change rate of the ink tank stored in the storage device (step S51), and the process is ended. As can be seen from FIG. 12 shown in the third embodiment, the ink remaining amount decreases as the temperature change rate of the ink tank increases.

In the present embodiment as described above, the heating means for ejecting ink serves to eject the ink, detect the temperature of the ink tank, and heat the ink.
Further, as compared with the fourth embodiment, the mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank can be further downsized.

Further, in this embodiment, the MPU 307 drives / controls various detecting means via the controller 305, but the controller 305 may be omitted if it is a one-chip type MPU.

(Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an ink remaining amount detecting apparatus used in the sixth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, an ink tank 404 and a print head 401 for ejecting ink are integrated via an ink flow path 402, and the ink flow path 402 is connected to the ink flow path 402. Is provided with a flow path blocking means 403 such as an electromagnetic valve for blocking the supply of ink from the ink tank 404 to the print head 401. In the ink tank 404, a gas injection pump 407 for injecting a certain amount of gas such as air into the ink tank 404, pressure measuring means 406 for measuring the pressure in the ink tank 404, and atmospheric pressure in the ink tank 404. And an opening valve 405 for releasing the valve.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, a storage device 410 in which a correlation function of the remaining ink amount based on a pressure change in the ink tank is stored, an MPU 409, and an MPU.
In response to a command from 409, the flow path shutoff means 403 shuts off the ink flow path 402 and the open valve 405 shuts off from the atmosphere.
There is provided a controller 408 for pressurizing by the pressure 07 and measuring the pressure in the ink tank 404 at this time by the pressure measuring means 406, and thereafter opening the flow path blocking means 403 and the opening valve 405. The MPU 409 gives the above-mentioned command to the controller 408 and calculates the remaining ink amount from the pressure in the ink tank 404 obtained by the pressure measuring means 406 based on the correlation function of the storage device 410.

The above-mentioned pressure measuring means 406 is composed of an element for converting the displacement amount due to the pressure in the ink tank 404 into an electric signal, and the controller 408 reads the electric signal from the element and transmits it to the MPU 409. Then, the MPU 409 measures the current pressure from the electric signal.

Next, the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device applied to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

First, the MPU 409 is the controller 408.
Through the ink flow path blocking means 403.
Is cut off (step S61).

Next, the MPU 409 is connected to the controller 408.
Through the open valve 405, the ink tank 404 is shut off from the outside air (step S62).

The MPU 409 is the controller 40
The pressure in the ink tank 404 is measured by the pressure measuring means 406 via the control unit 8 (step S63).

After the measurement, the MPU 409 is connected to the controller 40
The gas injection pump 407 is operated for a predetermined time via No. 8 to inject a constant volume of gas into the ink tank 404 (step S64).

After the operation of the pump is completed, the MPU 409
The ink tank 404 via the controller 408.
The internal pressure is measured by the pressure measuring means 406 (step S65).

Then, the remaining ink amount in the ink tank 404 is calculated from the pressure difference between the measured value in step S63 and the measured value in step S65, as described later (step S66).

After that, the MPU 409 is connected to the controller 4
The opening valve 405 is opened via 08 (step S6).
7).

The MPU 409 is the controller 40
8 through the ink flow path blocking means 403.
2 is opened (step S68). As described above, the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 404 is measured, and the process ends.

In the process of calculating the remaining ink amount, the method of calculating the remaining ink amount is as follows.

Regarding the relationship between the pressure in the ink tank and the ink remaining amount, if the ink remaining amount in the ink tank is large,
The pressure in the ink tank 404 is high after a certain amount of gas is injected, and conversely, when the remaining amount of ink is small, the pressure in the ink tank 404 is low after a certain amount of gas is injected.

Based on this relationship, the correlation between the pressure difference before and after the gas injection and the ink remaining amount in the ink tank is measured in advance, and the data is stored in the storage device 410.

The MPU 409 uses the data stored in the storage device 410 in step S66 to set the ink tank 4
The remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 404 is calculated from the pressure difference before and after injecting the gas into 04. Further, at this time, correction is also performed due to changes in atmospheric pressure.

As described above, in this embodiment, a predetermined gas is injected into the ink tank, and the ink remaining amount in the ink tank is calculated from the pressure change in the ink tank, so that a small ink tank is obtained. However, it became possible to calculate the remaining ink level.

(Seventh Embodiment) In the sixth embodiment, a fixed volume of gas is injected into the ink tank, but injecting a fixed volume of gas requires operating the gas injection pump for a fixed time. However, as the pressure inside the ink tank rises, the efficiency of the pump for injecting gas inevitably decreases. That is, when there is a large amount of ink remaining in the ink tank, the pressure in the ink tank becomes high and an error occurs. Further, in order to accurately measure the pressure inside the ink tank, highly accurate pressure measuring means is required.

The embodiment described in detail below is an improvement of the sixth embodiment so as to solve the above problems.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in the seventh embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, an ink tank 504 and a print head 501 for ejecting ink are integrated via an ink flow path 502, and the ink flow path 502 is provided in the ink flow path 502. Is provided with a flow path blocking means 503 such as an electromagnetic valve for blocking the supply of ink from the ink tank 504 to the print head 501. The ink tank 504 includes a gas injection pump 507 for supplying a constant amount of gas such as air to the ink tank 504 per unit time, a pressure measuring unit 506 for measuring the pressure in the ink tank 504, and an ink tank 504. An opening valve 505 is provided for releasing to atmospheric pressure.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the storage device 510 in which the correlation function of the ink remaining amount based on the pressure change in the ink tank is stored, the MPU 509, and the MPU.
In response to a command from 509, the flow path shutoff unit 503 shuts off the ink flow path 502 and the open valve 505 shuts off from the atmosphere.
There is provided a controller 508 for pressurizing by means of 07, measuring the pressure in the ink tank 504 at this time by means of the pressure measuring means 506, and thereafter opening the flow path blocking means 503 and the opening valve 505. The MPU 509 gives the above-mentioned command to the controller 508 and calculates the remaining ink amount from the pressure in the ink tank 504 obtained by the pressure measuring means 506 based on the correlation function of the storage device 510.

The above-mentioned pressure measuring means 506 is composed of an element for converting the displacement amount due to the pressure in the ink tank 504 into an electric signal, and the controller 508 reads the electric signal from the element and transmits it to the MPU 509. Then, the MPU 509 measures the current pressure from the electric signal.

Next, the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting apparatus applied to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

First, the MPU 509 is the controller 508.
Through the ink passage 502 by the passage blocking means 503.
Is cut off (step S71).

Next, the MPU 509 is the controller 508.
Via the open valve 505, the ink tank 504 is shut off from the outside air (step S72).

The MPU 509 is the controller 50.
The pressure in the ink tank 504 is measured by the pressure measuring unit 506 via the control unit 8 (step S73).

After the measurement, the MPU 509 records the present time with a timer or the like (step S74).

As soon as step S74 is completed, the MP
The U 509 operates the gas injection pump 507 via the controller 508 to inject a fixed amount of gas into the ink tank 504 per unit time (step S75).

Then, the pressure inside the ink tank 504 is measured at any time by the pressure measuring means 506 (step S7).
6).

At this time, it is judged whether or not the pressure inside the ink tank 504 is a predetermined pressure, and if it is not the predetermined pressure, steps S75 and S76 are repeated (step S77).

Next, the MPU 509 is the controller 50.
When it is confirmed that the inside of the ink tank 504 has reached a predetermined pressure via 8, the gas injection is stopped and the current time is immediately recorded (step S78).

Then, step S74 and step S78.
The time from the recording time at and until the pressure in the ink tank 508 reaches a predetermined pressure is calculated (step S7).
9).

The remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 504 is calculated from the time calculated in step S79 as described later (step S80).

Thereafter, the MPU 509 is the controller 5
The opening valve 505 is opened via 08 (step S8).
1).

The MPU 509 is the controller 50.
8 to the ink flow path 50 by the flow path blocking means 503.
2 is opened (step S82). As described above, the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 504 is measured, and the process ends.

In the process of calculating the remaining ink amount, the method of calculating the remaining ink amount is as follows.

The relationship between the time until the pressure in the ink tank reaches a predetermined pressure and the remaining amount of ink is that when the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is large, the pressure in the ink tank 404 reaches the predetermined pressure. The time is short, and conversely, if the ink remaining amount is small, the time until the pressure in the ink tank 404 reaches the predetermined pressure becomes long.

Based on this relationship, when the gas is injected into the space other than the ink in the ink tank 504, the time for which the gas injection pump 507 operates until the pressure reaches a predetermined pressure, and the inside of the ink tank at that time The correlation with the remaining ink amount is measured in advance, and the data is stored in the storage device 510.

The MPU 409 determines the ink tank 5 based on the data stored in the storage device 510 in step S80.
From the time until 04 reaches a predetermined pressure, the ink tank 5
The remaining ink amount in 04 is calculated. Further, at this time, correction is also performed due to changes in atmospheric pressure.

In this embodiment as described above, when the gas is injected until the pressure in the ink tank reaches a predetermined pressure, the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is calculated by the operating time of the gas injection pump. Now, it is possible to calculate the amount of ink remaining in a small ink tank.

(Eighth Embodiment) FIG. 21 is a schematic structural view showing the structure of an eighth embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 22 is used in the eighth embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing an ink remaining amount detecting device.

As shown in FIG. 21, the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment has a carriage 602, which is slidably fitted to a shaft 603 in the direction of arrow A and is attached to the output shaft of a motor 606. It is connected to a part of the belt 604 which is wound around a fixed roller 605 and a roller 605a which is rotatably supported.
Thus, by driving the motor 606, the belt 604 rotates in the normal direction and the reverse direction, and the carriage 602 reciprocates in the arrow A direction.

The ink remaining amount detecting apparatus used in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, is a motor driving means 607 for driving and controlling the motor 606.
A motor monitoring unit 608 for monitoring the operating state of the motor 606 and an MPU 609 are provided to monitor the current consumption of the motor 606 when the carriage 602 is finely reciprocating in the direction of arrow A. Has been done.

A specific example of the motor monitoring means for monitoring and measuring the current consumption of the motor will be described. FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a motor monitoring means which is a main part of a structure of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

A low resistance 702 for detecting an exciting current of the motor is connected in series to one end of a winding 701 of the motor, and the exciting of the motor is turned on / off between them.
A voltage is applied via a switch 705 for switching. An amplifier 703 for amplifying an electromotive voltage generated across the low resistance 702 is connected in parallel, and an A / D converter 704 for A / D conversion is connected to the amplifier 703. Then, the A / D converter 704 converts the digital signal into M
Transmit to PU.

Next, the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in this embodiment will be described.

First, at the time of printing, the MPU 609 finely reciprocally scans the carriage 602 carrying the print cartridge 602 in the direction A through the motor control means 607.

At this time, by the motor monitoring means 608,
The current consumption of the motor 606 while the carriage 602 is finely reciprocatingly scanned is monitored.

Then, the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank can be detected by the consumed current. As described above, the amount of ink remaining in the print cartridge 601 is measured.

In the process of calculating the remaining ink amount, the method of calculating the remaining ink amount is as follows.

The relationship between the remaining ink amount and the motor is such that when the carriage 602 carrying the print cartridge 601 is finely reciprocated in the scanning direction,
If the remaining amount of ink in 1 is large, the print cartridge 60
If the weight of 1 is heavy, the load on the motor is large, and conversely the remaining amount of ink is small, the print cartridge 601
Is lighter and the load on the motor is smaller. The load of such a motor appears in the exciting current of the motor. That is, when the motor load is large, the exciting current is large, and when the motor load is small, the exciting current is small.

Therefore, the correlation between the ink remaining amount of the print cartridge 601 and the exciting current of the motor is measured in advance, and this is stored in the storage device of the MPU 609.

Based on the stored data, the exciting current of the motor when the print cartridge 601 is reciprocated in the scanning direction is measured, and the ink remaining amount in the print cartridge 601 is calculated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the print cartridge is processed at all by detecting the ink remaining amount by the load current of the motor when the carriage carrying the print cartridge is finely reciprocated in the scanning direction. Without it, it becomes possible to detect the remaining ink amount. This can be realized without increasing the cost of the consumable print cartridge.

(Ninth Embodiment) The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment has the same structure as that described in the eighth embodiment, and therefore the ink remaining amount used in the ink jet recording apparatus is detected here. Only other examples of the device will be described below. Further, in the eighth embodiment, the ink remaining amount is calculated from the relationship between the load applied to the motor and the consumed current, but it may be difficult to measure the current accurately. Therefore, in this embodiment, the remaining ink amount is calculated based on the relationship between the load applied to the motor and the back electromotive force.

The ink remaining amount detecting apparatus used in the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment is similar to the one shown in FIG. 21, and the motor driving means 607 for controlling the driving of the motor 606.
A motor monitoring unit 608 for monitoring the operating state of the motor 606 and an MPU 609 are provided to monitor the back electromotive voltage of the motor 606 when the carriage 602 is finely reciprocating in the direction of arrow A. It is configured.

Here, a concrete example of the motor monitoring means for monitoring and measuring the counter electromotive voltage of the motor will be described. FIG. 24 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a motor monitoring means which is a main part of the configuration of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

A voltage is applied to the winding 801 of the motor through a switch 806 for turning on / off the excitation of the motor. The winding 801 of the motor is shown in FIG.
4, a diode 802 for rectifying only the back electromotive force generated at the time of driving the motor, a resistor 803 and a smoothing capacitor 80 for facilitating detection of the back electromotive force of the motor.
An A / D converter 805 for A / D converting the counter electromotive voltage is connected via a constant circuit composed of four. Then, the A / D converter 805 transmits the digital signal to the MPU.

Next, the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in this embodiment will be described.

At the time of printing, the MPU finely reciprocally scans the carriage 602 carrying the print cartridge 602 in the direction A through the motor control means 607.

At this time, by the motor monitoring means 608,
The counter electromotive voltage of the motor 606 is monitored when the carriage 602 is finely reciprocally scanned.

Then, the ink remaining amount in the ink tank can be detected by the counter electromotive voltage. As described above, the amount of ink remaining in the print cartridge 601 is measured.

In the process of calculating the remaining ink amount, the method of calculating the remaining ink amount is as follows.

The relationship between the remaining ink amount and the motor is such that when the carriage 602 carrying the print cartridge 601 is finely reciprocated in the scanning direction,
If the remaining amount of ink in 1 is large, the print cartridge 60
If the weight of 1 is heavy, the load on the motor is large, and conversely the remaining amount of ink is small, the print cartridge 601
Is lighter and the load on the motor is smaller. The load of such a motor appears in the back electromotive force of the motor.

For this reason, the correlation between the ink remaining amount of the print cartridge 601 and the back electromotive force of the motor is measured in advance, and this is stored in the storage device of the MPU 609.

Based on the stored data, the counter electromotive voltage of the motor when the print cartridge 601 is reciprocated in the scanning direction is measured, and the ink remaining amount in the print cartridge 601 is calculated.

As described above, in this embodiment, the back electromotive voltage of the motor is directly connected to the A / D converter,
It is possible to know the load of the motor without correcting the amplifier.

[0171]

The present invention as described above has the following effects.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by displaying the ink remaining amount information on the ink tank by the ink remaining amount display means based on the detection result of the ink remaining amount detecting device, the print cartridge in which the ink is running low can be obtained. It is possible to make a distinction. Therefore, when a large amount of printing is continuously performed, it is possible to prevent the printing cartridge from being erroneously mounted due to the shortage of the remaining printing cartridge.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the ink tank is heated by the heating means, the temperature of the ink tank is detected by the temperature detecting means, and the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank is detected from the temperature rise rate at this time. Since it is not necessary to use the conventional float, it is possible to detect the ink remaining amount of a small print cartridge.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, gas is injected into the ink tank by the gas injecting means, the pressure in the ink tank is measured by the pressure measuring means, and the ink remaining in the ink tank is determined from the pressure in the ink tank at this time. By detecting the amount, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of ink in a small print cartridge, because floating as in the past is not used. According to the invention described in claim 13, the load amount applied to the motor when the carriage carrying the ink tank is moved and scanned by the motor is monitored and measured by the motor monitoring means, and the ink remaining amount in the ink tank is determined from the load amount. Detect. Therefore, the remaining ink amount can be detected without processing the print cartridge at all. This makes it possible to manufacture a small print cartridge without increasing the cost of the consumable print cartridge.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a print cartridge applied to a first embodiment of an ink remaining amount display means in a print recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a printer main body in which the print cartridge shown in FIG. 1 is loaded.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control device for displaying remaining ink amount information in the first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating unit which is one control unit in the control device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a print cartridge applied to a second embodiment of the remaining ink amount display means in the print recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control device for displaying remaining ink amount information in the second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating unit which is one control unit in the control device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in a third embodiment of the inkjet recording device of the present invention.

9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating unit included in the ink remaining amount detection device shown in FIG.

10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a temperature detection unit included in the ink remaining amount detection device shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a general correlation of the remaining ink amount based on the temperature change rate of the ink tank.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in a fourth embodiment of the inkjet recording device of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in a fifth embodiment of the inkjet recording device of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in a sixth embodiment of the inkjet recording device of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in a seventh embodiment of the inkjet recording device of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing the operation of the ink remaining amount detecting device used in the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a schematic structural diagram showing the structure of an eighth embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing an ink remaining amount detecting device used in an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a schematic configuration diagram of a motor monitoring means that is a main part of a configuration of an ink remaining amount detecting device used in an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the motor monitoring means that is a main part of the configuration of the remaining ink amount detection device used in the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 41 Ink remaining amount display section 12, 42 Print head section 13, 43 Ink tank section 21, 51, 101, 201, 301, 601 Print cartridge 22, 602 Carriage 23 Printer body 31, 61, 109, 208, 307, 409,50
9,609 MPU 32,62 Ink remaining amount detection means 33,63 Ink remaining amount display control means 34,64 Ink remaining amount display means 35,65,105,203,303 Heating means 36,67a, 111 Heating element 37,68a , 112 switching elements 102, 202, 302, 401, 501 print heads 103, 402, 502 ink flow paths 103a, 403, 503 flow path blocking means 104, 204, 304, 404, 504 ink tank 106 temperature detection means 107, 206 , 305, 408, 508 Controllers 108, 207, 306 Air temperature detecting means 110, 209, 308, 410, 510 Storage device 113 Thermistor 405, 505 Release valve 406, 506 Pressure measuring means 407, 507 Gas injection pump 603 shaft 604 bell 605,605a Roller 606 Motor 607 Motor driving means 608 Motor monitoring means 701,801 Motor winding 702 Low resistance 703 Amplifier 704,805 A / D converter 705,806 Switch 802 Diode 803 Resistor 804 Smoothing capacitor

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a print head, the ink tank being configured to be replaceable with the apparatus main body, supplying ink to the print head, and the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank. A remaining ink amount detection device for detecting the ink remaining amount, an ink remaining amount display means provided in the ink tank for displaying the remaining ink amount information, and an ink remaining amount display device based on the detection result of the ink remaining amount detection device. An inkjet recording apparatus, comprising: a control device that displays remaining ink amount information. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank and the print head are integrally formed, and the apparatus has a replaceable print cartridge, and the print cartridge has an ink remaining amount display means. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ink remaining amount display means includes a display portion formed of a heat-sensitive material that changes color when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, and the heat-sensitive material. And a heating means for applying heat, wherein the control device applies heat to the heat-sensitive material by the heating means based on the detection result of the ink remaining amount detection device to cause color change, and displays ink remaining amount information. An inkjet recording device characterized by displaying. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ink remaining amount display means includes a display unit formed of a heat-sensitive material that changes color when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. Controls the print head with a pulse width at which ink is not ejected based on the detection result of the ink remaining amount detection device, and heat generated by the print head at this time applies heat to the display unit to generate a heat-sensitive material. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that a material is changed in color to display remaining ink amount information. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink remaining amount detection device includes a heating unit that heats an ink tank and a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the ink tank. An ink jet recording apparatus, which detects the amount of ink remaining in an ink tank when the temperature of the tank rises. 6. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a storage device that stores a rate of change in increase due to the correlation between the remaining amount of ink and the temperature of the ink tank, and the storage device is built in the main body of the device. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by being provided. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heating means is also used as a heating means used for ejecting ink. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the heating means and the temperature detecting means are shared with a heating means used for ejecting ink. Recording device. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising flow path blocking means for blocking an ink flow path from the ink tank to the print head when heating the ink tank. An inkjet recording device characterized by the above. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink remaining amount detecting device has a gas injecting device for injecting gas into the ink tank, and a pressure measuring device for measuring the pressure in the ink tank. An ink jet recording device characterized by detecting the ink remaining amount in the ink tank by the pressure in the ink tank. 11. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ink remaining amount detecting device is configured to detect ink remaining in the ink tank depending on a volume of gas injected until a pressure value in the ink tank reaches a reference value. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by detecting an amount. 12. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising flow path blocking means for blocking an ink flow path from the ink tank to the print head when injecting gas into the ink tank. An inkjet recording device characterized by the above. 13. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a carriage having an ink tank mounted thereon; and a motor for moving and scanning the carriage, wherein the ink remaining amount detecting device operates on the motor. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a motor monitoring means for monitoring and measuring a load amount, and detecting the ink remaining amount in the ink tank from the load amount applied to the motor. 14. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the motor monitoring unit is a unit that monitors and measures the back electromotive force of the motor, and the ink remaining amount in the ink tank is based on the back electromotive force of the motor. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by detecting